Embattled former NYPD top cop Bernard Kerik yesterday abruptly resigned from Rudy Giuliani’s consulting firm, apologizing for a recent string of embarrassing disclosures about his finances and private life.

For Kerik – who touched off political troubles for Giuliani earlier this month by his messy withdrawal as a nominee to head the Homeland Security Department – it was like going from the White House to the outhouse.

“The events surrounding my withdrawal have become an unfair and unnecessary distraction to the firm and the important work being done there,” Kerik said at a hastily called press conference outside The Pierre hotel on Fifth Avenue. “I am confident that I will be vindicated from any allegation of wrongdoing.”

Kerik, 49, read from a prepared statement and did not take questions from reporters.

A spokesman for the former police commissioner said afterwards that Kerik’s decision to step down was his alone.

About a half-hour later, Giuliani, in a separate press conference a mile away, reiterated the same message, saying he agreed with Kerik’s decision but was not behind it.

“Did I encourage him or push him? No, I did not; it came from Bernie,” the ex-mayor said outside a Times Square office building that houses his firm, Giuliani Partners. “That discussion began a few days ago, a week ago.”

“He made some mistakes,” Giuliani added. “He is going to have to deal with those issues now, and I believe he will be able to do that.”

Kerik’s scandal-plagued Homeland Security nomination hurt Giuliani, a rising star in the Republican Party who had recommended his friend and business partner to President Bush.

Giuliani later personally apologized to the president for the fiasco.

Bush on Dec. 3 tapped Kerik to head Homeland Security. But Kerik abruptly withdrew his name Dec. 10, saying he suddenly realized he had neglected to pay taxes for a nanny he employed who might have been in the country illegally.

A rash of other scandals soon followed, including reports that he had connections with people suspected of doing business with the mob and that he had simultaneous extramarital affairs with two women.

The Bronx district attorney is probing allegations that Kerik illegally accepted gifts and had a business relationship with the owner of a construction firm suspected of having organized-crime links. Kerik failed to fill out a mandatory background form before being appointed police commissioner in 2000, according to the city’s Department of Investigation.

After leaving the Police Department in 2002, Kerik joined Giuliani Partners as a security consultant.Giuliani Partners has advised business and government agencies on security, leadership and other issues.

Kerik then signed on to help launch the Iraqi police force.

Kerik said he plans to “clear [his] good name, spend more time with his family, and go to the gym more.

QUOTES

Kerik on Rudy: ‘The events surrounding my withdrawal have become an unfair and unnecessary distraction to the firm.’

Rudy on Kerik: ‘He made some mistakes and he’s going to have to deal with those issues.’